Bottle-washing machine.



PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

J. ANGELETTI. BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W/TNESSES;

A TTORN E KS PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. ANGELBTTI. I BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1904.

v A gss az ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES a UNITED STATES Patented April 4, 1905 PATENT OFFICE.

BOTTLE-WASHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,255, dated April 4, 1905.

Application filed June 25,1904. Serial No. 214,069.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH ANGELETTI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mil waukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of l/Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for washing bottles; and it pertains to that class by which a large number of hottles may be simultaneously washed, others simultaneously placed in position preparatory to being washed, while those which have previously been washed are being emptied and permitted to drain preparatory to being replaced by unwashed bottles.

My invention is further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a front view. Fig. 2 represents a side View. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section drawn on line x at of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail showing a side view of the brush and a vertical section of a bottle in which the-brush is inclosed and a water-duct communicating from a reservoir with the mouth of the bottle; and Fig. 5 is a top view, and Fig. 6 a vertical section, of a device for washing the exterior surface of the bottles.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

1 is a rectangular revoluble bottle-rack upon which the bottles 2 are supported while being washed.

3 represents bottle-retaining receptacles provided with a plurality of resilient clamping-arms 1, which engage the neck of the bottle and prevent the same from dropping from the receptacle 3 as the latter is inverted.

5 is a platform-supporting shaft.

6 6 are sildable ournal-bearings in which the shaft 5 is supported. The journal-bearings 6 are in turn supported from the side standards 7 7 of the machine.

8 8 are rectangular guide-bearings rigidly aliixed to the respective ends of the shaft 5 and turn with it as the bottle-rack 1 is revolved upon its supporting-shaft.

It will be understood that when the bot tles are being placed upon the bottle-rack 1,

preparatory to being washed, said bottlerack is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 1, whereby the same is free to be turned upon its supporting-shaft. lVhen, however, the bottles have been put in place preparatory to being washed, said bottle-rack is raised from the position shown in Fig. 1 until the journalbearings 6 are brought to the upper ends of the inclosing slots 9, whereby the rectangular guide-bearings 8 are brought between the vertical flanges 10 10 upon the respective sides of said slot, whereby said shaft 5 is prevented from turning and the bottle-rack 1 is held rigidly in place while the bottles are being washed. When the bottles have been washed and said bottle-rack 1 lowered to the position shown, said rectangular bearings 8 are brought beneath the guide-flanges 10, in which position said bottle-rack, shaft, and rectangular bearings are free to turn as before. Each of the four sides of the bottleraek are preferably provided with two series of bottle-retaining receptacles.

It will be understood that when the two upper series of bottles are in the vertical po sition and being washed two additional series may be placed in the front side of the bottle-rack preparatory to being washed; that when the two upper series of bottles have been washed and lowered and the bottle rack turned a quarter of a turn the washed bottles will be brought to the horizontal position upon the rear surface of the bottle-rack, while the unwashed bottles in front of the bottle-rack will be brought to the vertical position preparatory to being washed that when the next two series of bottles are brought in position to be washed those which have first been washed will be moved from the horizontal position in the rear of the bottle-rack to the vertical position beneath it, when the water in said bottles is permitted to [low of its own gravity therefrom into the receiving-tank 11. The bottle-rack 1 is raised from the position shown to the upper position through the mechanism hereinafter described by turning the crank 12. Motion is communicated from the crank 12 to the bottle-rack 1 through the shaft 13, pulleys 14 1 1, flexible connections 15, journal-bearings 6, and bottle-racksupporting shaft 5. It will be understood that by turning the crank 12 the flexible connections 15 at each end of the bottle-rack will be wound upon the pulleys 14. \Vhen the bottle-rack has been raised, it is prevented from moving back of its own gravity by the ratchet-wheel 16 and pawl 17. The ratchet-wheel 16 is rigidly secured to the shaft 18, while the pawl 17 is pivotally sup ported from the side standards 7 of the machine and engages the teeth of said ratchet as the latter is being turned beneath it. When desirous to lower the bottle-rack 1, the pawl 17 is thrown out of engagement with said ratchet-wheel, when the latter is permitted to descend of its own gravity, while the operator retards the movement and prevents the same from falling too rapidly by controlling the movement of the crank 12.

18 is a reservoir in which the water used for washing the bottles is stored.

19 represents slidable brush inelosing ducts, a separate duct and brush being provided for each of the several bottles which are being washed. at one time.

20 represents the brushes by which the bottles are washed.

The lower ends of the ducts 19 taper out- Wardly to conform to the mouth of the bottles to be washed and are adapted to fit over the upper ends of the bottles and to form a water-tight oint around the same, whereby when said bottles and ducts are raised and said ducts brought into communication with the reservoir 18 water will be permitted to flow from the reservoir 18 into the several bottles as they are being washed. It will be understood. that when the several ducts 19 are lowered in the position shown in Figs. 1. and 3 they are thereby brought over and around the brush, whereby the latter is collapsed from the shape shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 3 preparatory to entering the mouth and neck of the bottle. The ducts 19 are provided with a plurality of apertures 21 through which water from the reservoir 18 is permitted to enter them when the same are raised and said apertures brought within said reservoir. It will now be understood that when the bottle-rack 1 is raised and the mouths of the bottles are brought within the mouths of said. ducts 19 said ducts will also be raised by contact with the bottles, whereby the several brushes are brought within. the bottles, while said ducts 19 are brought into position to communicate with the water in the reservoir .18. This being done, water from the reservoir i lows into the bottle through said ducts when the machine is ready to be started. Motion is communicated to all of the several brushes simultaneously from the driving power through the driving-belt 22, pulley 23, shaft 24, pulley 25, belt 26, pulley 27, shaft 28, gear-wheel 29, pinions 30, shafts 31 81, bevel-gears 32, pinions 33, and. vertical shafts 84, to the lower end of which shafts the several brushes are attached. A water-tight sleeve 34 is formed in connection with the reservoir 18, around the tubes 19, which prevents the water from escaping from the reservoir around said tubes. To facilitate in raising the bottle-rack with the bottles thereon, the same is preferably counterbalanced by a weight 35, which is connected with the shaft 13 through the pulley 36 and flexible connec tion 37. The flexible connection 37 is for convenience of construction preferably supported from a pulley 88, whereby the counterweight may be located where it is least in the way of the operator.

39 represents a device for washing the exterior surface of the bottles, details of which are shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, 40 represents a cylindrical wall which is provided with a plurality of inwardly-projecting brushes 41, while the bottom of said receptacle is provided with a plurality of upwardly-projecting brushes 42, and said cylinder 40 is centrally supported at its lower end upon the shaft 43. Motion is communicated to the shaft 43 and from thence to the brushes from the driving-shaft 24 through the bevel gears 44 and 45, which latter gear 45 is rig idly secured to the lower end of the shaft 43. Thus it is obvious that when the machine is in operation a rapid rotary movement is given to the device 39, whereby when the bottles are in place in the same its exterior surface is quickly washed. A similar device of smaller dimensions may be employed in connection with the machine for washing the exterior surface of the neck of the bottle. VVater is led to the device or receptacle 39 while they are being washed through duct 46, and its escape is controlled by the hand-actuated valve 47. Water is led to the reservoir 18 from the supply through the valve 48 and duct 49. Water is led to the duct 49 from. the supply through the duct 50.

It will of course be understood that while I have shown two series of bottles, two series of brushes, and two sets of devices for operating the brushes simultaneously, one brush for each of the bottles in the respective series, the number of bottles and brushes and the mechanism for operating said brushes may be increased or diminished, as circumstances and convenience may require.

51 is an idler, and 52 is a belt-shifting lever. WVhen desirous to stop the brushes without stopping the other parts of the machine, the belt 26 is shifted from the pulley 29 to the pulley 51, whereby the brushes for washing the interior of the bottles will remain at rest while the brushes for washing the exterior surfaces are permitted to run.

When, however, it is desirous to stop the machine without stopping the motive power, .the belt 22 is shifted from the position shown to the idler 53, (shown in Fig. 1,) whereby the entire machine is stopped.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for washing bottles, the combination of a revoluble bottle-rack comprising a plurality of bottle-supporting surfaces; means for holding the bottles in place upon said bottle-rack; a rack-supporting shaft slidable journal-bearings for revolubly supporting said shaft at its respective ends; means for raising and lowering said bottlerack; a plurality of brushes revolubly sup ported above said bottlerack; a water-reservoir aplurality of brush-inclosing ducts having slidable bearings at their upper ends through the bottom of said reservoir, said ducts being provided with apertures through which the water in the reservoir is permitted to enter the same and pass from thence to the bottles supported upon said bottle-rack; revoluble shafts connected with the upper ends of said brushes and means for communicating motion from the motive power to said shafts, whereby all of said brushes may be simultaneously operated, substantially as, and for. the purpose specified.

2. In a machine for washing bottles, the combination of a revoluble bottle-rack comprising a plurality of bottle-supporting surfaces; means for holding the bottles in place upon said bottle-rack a bottle-rack-supporting shaft means for revolubly supporting said shaft at its respective ends in movable journal-bearings means for revolving said bottlerack on its longitudinal aXis means for raising and lowering said rack; a plurality of brushes revolubly supported above said bottle-rack; a water-reservoir; a plurality of brush-inclosing ducts having slidable bearings at their upper ends through the bottom of said water-reservoir, said ducts being pro vided with apertures through which the water in the reservoir is permitted to enter the same and pass from thence to the bottles supported upon said bottle-rack; revoluble shafts connected with the upper ends of said brushes; and means for communicating motion from the motive power to said shafts; substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for washing bottles, the combination of a revoluble rectangular bottle-rack; a plurality of bottle-receptacles secured to each of the several sides of saidbottlerack; a plurality of bottle-retaining clamping-arms secured to each of said receptacles for retaining the bottles therein; a rack-supporting shaft provided at its respective ends with movable journal-bearings; means for raising, lowering and revolving said bottlerack; a plurality of brushes revolubly sup ported above said bottle-rack; a plurality of brush-inclosing ducts having slidable bearings through the bottom of said water-reservoir, said ducts being provided with apertures through which the water in the reservoir is permitted to enter the same and pass from thence to the bottles supported upon said bottle-rack; revoluble shafts connected with the upper ends of said brushes and means for communicating motion from the motive power to said shafts, whereby all of said brushes may be simultaneously operated, substantially as, and for the purpose specified.

4. In a machine for washing bottles, the combination of a revoluble bottle-rack; means for holding bottles in place upon the respective sides of said bottle-rack; a racksupporting shaft; means for revolubly supporting said shaft at its respective ends in journal-bearings means for raising and lowering said bottle-rack; a water-reservoir located above said bottle-rack; a plurality of slidable ducts suspended in slidable bearings from said reservoir; a plurality of revoluble shafts located in said ducts; a plurality of collapsible brushes suspended from said shafts; means for communicating motion from a motive power to said shafts and collapsible brushes; means for raising said bottle-rack with the bottles thereon in connection with said slidable ducts, said ducts being adapted to retain said brushes in their collapsed forms so as to enter the necks of the'bottles as they are raised; meansfor communicating a rotary movement from the motive power to said brushes and means for simultaneously opening communication between said water-reservoir and said brushretaining tubes and supplying the bottles with water as they are being washed, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH ANGEL'ETTI.

lVitnesses Ms. B. ERWIN,

r JosEPn J. AIMMERMANN. 

